Spring-wheel.



M. nmUNKLIN & D A"J. KIRTLAND. SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1913.

L114,583 v Patented Oct. 20, 1914 view of yone of the spoke cushioning blocks;

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

MELVIN H. CONKLIN AND DANIEL J'. KIRTLAND, OF ANTONITO, COLORADO.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

Application led May 21, 1913. Serial No. 769,049.

taken apart when it becomes necessary to replace any element or for other cause.

.The invention consists of the novel features, details of yconstruction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanyin drawing, and pointed out in the appended c aim.

Referring to the drawing, forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a side view of part of a vehicle wheel embodying the invention, showing a portion in section .to

.bring out more clearly the relation of the component parts.- Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged'sect'ional view ofone of the spo-kes' and clips whereby the spokes are attachedto the rim of the wheel. Fig. 4 is a detail Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the U shaped springs. v i,

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indi-- cated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

The wheel embodies a hub 1, rim 2, telescoping spokes having their members connected to respectively the rim and hub and cushioning devices such as helical springs of the expansible type. The hub 1..com grises like sections each having an outer ange 3 at its inner end, said vflanges receiving the inner ends of the spokes between them when the several/parts are assembled.

The spokes are of like formation, each em-` bodying an outer member 4 and an inner member 5, said members having a telescoping arrangement. The inner member 5 is preferably tubular and receives the outer member 4 which is arranged to telescope therein, said tubular member also receiving a helical spring 6 which normally exerts an outward pressure upon the inner end of the member 4. A wedge shaped head 7 is detachably connected to the inner end of the spoke member and its sides are preferably parallel and touch the inner faces of the flanges 3, thereby preventing any lateral play of the spokes,` but admitting of such spokes having a limited oscillatory movement in the plane of the wheel. The head 7 has a pro-jection 8 which enters the inner end of the spoke member 5 and is preferably connected thereto by means of a screwthread joint. Bolts or fastenings 9 pass through registering openings formed in the i flanges 3 and head 7 and serve to connectthe several parts. When the spokes are in position V shaped spaces are formed between the opposing edges of adjacent heads 7 and these spaces receive U shaped springs 10 or like yieldable means which will admit of the spokes having a limited movement in the plane of the wheel so as to compensate for shock and vibration. The outer member 4 is formed with a socket 11 which is secured to a projection 12 of a clip 13, the l latter being constructed to embrace opposite sides of the rim 2te which it is attached by means of a bolt or fastening 14. The clip 13 and spoke member 4 are preferably connected by means of a screwthread joint. A helical spring 15 surrounds the outer4 portion of the member 4 and is interposed between the socket 11'. thereof and the outer end of the spoke member 5. The tension of the cushioning springs 6 and 15 is such as.

to sustain the load imposedupon the rim of the 4wheel and to admit of such rim yielding to absorb vibration and shock. The clip` Y13 is pivotally connected to the rim by means ofthe fastening 14,- thereby admitting "of the part having a limited play. y

It will be understood fromA the foregoing,

taken in connectionwith the accompanyingv drawing, that the invention provides a fwlleel which admits of the parts being readily assembled or of any spoke being removed without disturbing the remainder should it become necessary to replace 'any \part such as a disabled spring or-spoke member.-

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while we have .tithe flanges of the hub section. The rubber blocks 15 form cushioning means for the spokes and are located at the inner ends of the heads 7. A ring 17 is arranged between the inner ends of the hub sections and touches the inner ends of the rubber blocks or spoke cushioning means 15. This ring 17 also engages the inner ends of the U shaped springs 10 and prevents inward movement thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is z- A spring wheel comprising` a sectional hub, each of the hub sections having an outer flange at its inner end, a rim, telescoping spokes between the rim and hub, each of such spokes comprising an inner tubular member and an outer member tele? scoping within the tubular member and provided at itsouter end with a threaded socket, a clip pivotally connected to the rim and having a threaded projection fitted to said socket, wedge shaped heads arranged between the flanofes of the hub sections with V vshaped spacesxbetween the opposing edges of adjacent heads, U shaped springs in the spaces between the wedge shaped heads, fastenings connecting the flanges of the hub sections and the wedge shaped heads, the latter having threaded projections to receive the tubular spoke members, helical springs located within the tubular spoke members and interposed between the' outer spoke members and the wedge shaped heads, and other helical springs surrounding the outer spoke members and interposed between the sockets thereof and the outer ends of the tubular spoke members.

In testimony whereof we aHiX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

MELVIN H. CONKLN. DANIEL J. KIRTLAND. Witnesses:

J. D. FRAZEY, NICK T. RoDmQunz. 

